In this article we report the results of two studies that used a new sex role instrument, the Sex-Rep. The Sex-Rep uses ideographically elicited sex role constructs, rather than stereotypes, to determine classification. Results from the first study indicated that personal feminine constructs may be healthier than feminine stereotypes in some contexts. The second study showed that the Sex-Rep discriminates gender as well as does the Bern Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) and that these two instruments are nonredundant. Results also indicated that the apparent positive relation between masculinity and adjustment may be a measurement artifact. The different purposes of the Sex-Rep and the BSRI are discussed.Recent research into sex roles has focused on psychological androgyny, the combination of both masculine and feminine traits in a person of either sex. Androgynists maintain that this balanced, adaptable character structure is preferable to the onesided masculinity or femininity of the sex-typed individual.Androgyny theory led to the development of sex role inventories in which self-descriptions could encompass both masculine and feminine traits. To this end the Bern Sex Role Inventory (BSRI; Bern, 1974) was created. Other similar inventories have followed, most notably the Personal Attributes Questionnaire

Toman's duplication and homogamy theorems derive conflicting hypotheses for the relationship between birth order and attraction in dating relationships. The present investigation directly compared these two hypotheses for a sample of 123 dating couples. Members of each couple completed measures of birth order, liking, loving, time-period dating, probability of marrying partner, and satisfaction with relationship; birth orders were classified into five types according to Toman's system. The results did not support either duplication or homogamy. Although evidence exists for the effects of duplication on marital longevity and for homogamy on marital choice, birth order does not appear related to the choice, longevity, or attraction between dating partners. Theoretical implications of these findings were discussed.

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